Arsenal are famous for their incredible academy with the likes of Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere emerging from the ranks but who’s next to emerge from the youth set up?
With Hector Bellerin and Francis Coquelin the most recent players to settle into the first team, we look at who is to follow in their footsteps.
Wenger is not afraid to blood youngsters in his side and a good example of this, is the rise of Bellerin, who has had an impressive season at right back.
The French tactician called upon the 20-year-old after Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers both got injured, but Wenger has not looked back since.
Everyone thought Carl Jenkinson was the next right back for Arsenal fo years to come, but since his loan spell at West Ham, it seems as though Bellerin has leap frogged him in the pecking order.
Whilst Coquelin has surprised everyone in the Tavern after having a below average loan spell at Charlton, he is now an integral part of the Gunners’ midfield.
He has been at the top of the leaderboards in the 2015 in terms of interceptions and his pass completion rate and seems to be the right man to balance out their midfield, which is predominantly attack minded.
These two youngsters have been a breathe of fresh air at the Emirates and up next are five wonderkids who we think could feature in the first team next season.
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PRESS THE IMAGE OF ARSENE WENGER TO SEE THE FIVE WONDERKIDS
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Wellington Silva
This Brazilian prospect could be prepared to step foot in the first team after spending his professional career on loan to four different Spanish clubs.
Just like the last three seasons, he spent this current campaign out on loan to Almeria, who have been relegated.
Prior to this he has had spells at Levante, Alcoyano, Ponderradina and Murcia.
All in all he has made 107 appearances whilst being out in Spain and the attacker, who was brought in from Fluminense in 2011, could be ready to show what he is all about in the first team.
He has represented Brazil at Under 21 level and for the 22-year-old to make a name for himself in the first team, he must be firing on all cylinders for the Gunners.
Gedion Zelalem
Zelalem, who came from Hertha Berlin, has already made his debut for the Gunners in the fourth round of FA Cup against Coventry last year, making him the first player to feature for Arsenal who was born after Arsene Wenger took charge of the club.
Zelalem has previously represented Germany at numerous youth levels before coming an American citizen, he has now most recently played for America’s Under 20 side.
The youngster has been described on the club’s official website as being blessed with clever movement as well as being imaginative in possession.
He has had glimpses of first team action after featuring in the Asia Tour, where he played against in all four of the side’s games in Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan, where he showed a great creative eye, after assisting Theo Walcottt against Nagoya Grampus.
He also featured in the Emirates Cup as well being named in the first-team squad for 2013/14, despite him still being a first year scholar.
Ryo Miyaichi
He is a Japanese winger who possesses great pace and dribbling skills and he has spent this current season loaned out to FC Twente.
He has struggled to make a name for himself in the Eredivisie but as Coquelin has proven, you can still make it even if you have had a tough loan spell.
Punters are confident that one of the reasons why things didn’t work out for him abroad is because last he suffered a serious Hamstring injury.
He has also had a previous loan spell at Wigan but once again he found that game time was rare, after another injury.
So punters are hoping that with a fully fit pre season he can push on and prove to Wenger that his lightning pace can cause any defence problems.
Chuba Akpom
This young Englishman is the most recent man on the brink of the first team after dipping down to the lower leagues in the hope that he can prove his worth as well as gaining invaluable experience.
Last season he was loaned to Brentford before moving to Coventry, who were both in League One at the time, but he struggled to show the fans at each club, what his true potential is.
And things looked to be on the rise for Akpom at the beginning of this season after he scored a hat trick against West Brom’s Under 21 side.
Then his good form was rewarded in September after he was substituted in the League Cup against Southampton.
But things then went quiet for the 19-year-old after his next involvement with the first team was another cameo substitute role in the Premier League, which was in fact his league debut, away at Southampton on New Year’s day.
He has since been loaned out to Nottingham Forest, but has once again struggled to hit the ground running in the lower leagues, so he it is now or never for the youngster, as he must prove that he is capable of scoring at the top level.
Ryan Huddart
The Gunners are currently scouring the market for their next number one but in a few years time it could be this 6ft5 shot stopper.
The 17-year-old, who has been fast tracked to the Under 21s, has already signed his first professional deal after standing out for the Under 18s.
The former Charlton youngster also has experience of winning silverware with England after playing for the Under 16s, winning the Victory Shield against Scotland.
The commanding goalkeeper may not be ready to be the first choice keeper, but if Wojciech Szczesny decides to leave for first team football, Wenger may look to the youngster as his back up goalkeeper.
